Looking for a helping hand to get you through various options for gymnastic mats for home? You’ve come to the right place. This is a blog article that lists the top gymnastics mat types for sale in 2023! Explore the top five options available and understand the similarities and differences between the options.
Let’s find your perfect home gymnastics buddy!
Basic Gymnastics Mat
If you get only one gymnastic mat for home, this is it. The most basic option (yet the most essential) is the regular gymnastics mat. Usually made out of three parts, these mats can be folded for storage. These gymnastics mats are often quite hard yet soft enough compared to landing on a hard floor. Getting one for home is a smart decision as this product is to support your development in gymnastics as you become more advanced in your moves. These types of gymnastic mats for home come usually at a relatively low price point, so getting one doesn’t break your bank either.
Pros:
- Great for beginners and practicing individual moves
- Easy to clean
- Compact size
- Easy to store
Cons:
- Not enough space for sets of moves
- May not have enough cushioning for hard landings
Inflatable Mats (Airtracks)
Inflatable mats, more famously known as Airtracks, are the craze in gymnastics! Airtrack is basically an inflatable home gymnastics mat that is equally used in professional settings. They are thicker compared to the basic gymnastics mats meaning that landing on them feels more secure. And what’s best, the firmness is adjustable! Simply manage the amount or air in the mat to create a softer or firmer structure.
While Airtracks sound (and even look) like something that only professionals would use, you couldn’t be more wrong. Airtracks are the most popular gymnastics mats for sale currently available. Many gymnastics stores, such as https://us.acon24.com/collections/gymnastics-mats, sell them in various sizes. Which is another benefit of them compared to basic gymnastics mats; you can get them in any size and shape you find suitable for your needs.
These mats are used not only in gymnastics but also in tumbling, parkour and even as a place for small children to play on.
Pros:
- Adjustability of the firmness
- Multiple size and shape options
- Suitable for gymnasts and other trickers at all levels
Cons:
- More expensive compared to basic home gymnastics mats
- Not foldable
Crash Mats
In addition to the two home gymnastics mat types introduced, there are crash mats. Sounds brutal, yet somehow so accurate. Sometimes the landing fails even if you have practiced the move for hundreds of times and in those times, having something underneath you would have been great. Crash mats are designed for this exact purpose. They take the impact of a hard landing and allow you to land safely even from great heights.
Crash mats come in various types. Some are foldable while others are not. Some are thin and lightweight – these mats are designed to be thrown under the tricker in case it seems that the landing may fail. Others are thick and provide a solid base to land on safely.
Pros:
- Multipurpose equipment: crash mats can be used by trickers and gymnasts
- Variety in thickness and sizes
- Great add-on for intermediate and advanced trickers and gymnasts
Cons:
- Good as a second mat; usually not enough on its own
- Firmness is not adjustable
Small Spotting and Balance Mats
You’ve probably heard about the three mat types introduced in this article already. But what about spotting and balance mats? They are exactly what they say to be. Designed for both perfecting that single movement you’ve been focusing on for weeks and also for improving your balance – an integral part of any gymnasts skill set.
These types of gymnastics mats come in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes. Therefore, it’s difficult to say which type of spotting or balance mat you should get. It’s really all about what you want to practice and where you need extra assistance.
Pros:
- Help with intermediate and advanced moves
- Designed for a specific purpose
- Oftentimes stackable
Cons:
- Price can sometimes be steep for beginners
Yoga Mats
Lastly, we’ve thrown in the infamous yoga mat that most of us may already have at home. But why though? While a yoga mat is not designed for home gymnastics, it definitely can help when it comes to warm-ups and cool-downs. After all, practicing gymnastics isn’t just about nailing all the vaults and other tricks. It’s also about conditioning and mental well-being, to which yoga practices can also help. Consider it as an add-on that can support you to polish up a new skill you learn.
Pros:
- Usually inexpensive compared to other types of home gymnastic mats
- Suitable for various use
- Lightweight and easy to store
Cons:
- Cannot be used for gymnastics on its own
Which gymnastics mats are for you?
In this article, we’ve introduced five different types of gymnastic mats for home. While some may be suitable for advanced stuff as well, at the end of the day, it’s really about what makes you feel good and confident. We hope that by reading this article, you’ve gained knowledge on various home gymnastic mats in order to make a smart purchase decision. Lastly, before buying, we recommend you to check the following things:
- Are there any extras available? While a basic home gymnastic mat may be enough at first, you never know whether you’d like to add a beam or a spotting mat to it later on.
- What’s the warranty? Reputable manufacturers offer long and extensive warranty to their gymnastic products.
- How to maintain the product? Ask for maintenance tips in case you cannot find them on the manufacturer’s site
That’s it – we wish you happy leaping, jumping, tricking and vaulting with your new home gymnastics buddy!
